Ambulatory ankylosis and tendon apparatus.



H. E. BAILEY.

AMBULATORY ANKYLOSIS AND TENDON APPARATUS. APPLICATION TILED FEB.2, 1914.

1,126,682. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

NORRIS PETERS CQPPHOTO-LITHOU WASHINGTON. D. C.

HODZEER EDWARD BAILEY,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURL.

AMBULATORY ANKYLOSIS AND TENDON APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed February 2, 1914. Serial No. 815,895.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOMER EDWARD BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Ambulatory Ankylosis and Tendon Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in an ambulatory ankylosis and tendon apparatus and has for its object a mechanism applied to the leg for the correction of false ankylosis of the knee joint and for the lengthening of tendons under gradual eX- tension allowing time for nature to adjust herself to the changed conditions.

A further object is to construct a mechanism having its fulcrum a pivotal point above center thus slightly separating the knee joint as it is being straightened so the bones do not grind against each other, also preventing a subluxation of the tibia backward in making the correction.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view showing the device in application. Fig. 4: is a detail sectional view of the swivel made use of.

In the construction of my invention I provide two members 5 and 6 each consisting of an elongated portion 7 and a curved or looped portion 8; the two members are pivoted together at the point indicated by the numeral 9 by means of a rivet or the like 10; the ends 11 of the curved or looped portions are provided with sockets 12 having internally screw-threaded bores 13, said sockets being held in swivel position by means of the rivet projection 14. In these sockets is supported a screw-threaded adjusting rod 15 provided with a central enlargement 16 by which the adjusting rod is manipulated; this rod is provided with a right and left hand screw which corresponds with a like screw-thread formed in the bores of the sockets; the enlargement 16 is provided with holes 17 into which an instrument may be inserted for rotating the rod so as to suitably adjust the members 5 and 6; this enlargement may be of any shape and may have flattened surfaces for the application of a wrench if so desired; the elongated portions are provided with burs or prongs 18 which hold each member in rigid position upon the leg when the proper bandage 19 as shown in Fig. 3 is properly applied.

The apparatus is placed in position on the leg as shown in Fig. 3 and is for the express purpose of straightening deformed limbs and after once placed in proper position and firmly held by the bandage and by the manipulation of the adjusting rod the two members are brought from a right an gular position, or approximately so, to any angle or a straight position so that the leg can be brought from tin-natural to its natural position.

The device when applied to males can be worn without discomfort or inconvenience as the ordinary trousers may be worn over the same without detection, thus enabling a patient to continue his proper vocation and to avoid hospital confinement.

The essential feature is to construct an apparatus to correct the false ankylosis of the knee joint, and to lengthen the tendons and muscles of the same with pivotal point or fulcrum being above center, the joints are separated, preventing the bones from grinding against each other.

Having fully described my invention what I claim is:

1. An ambulatory ankylosis and tendon apparatus comprising two looped members pivotally connected together at the loops, and a means for adjusting the members, substantially as specified.

2. A device of the character described comprising two members, one end of each being formed in a loop, said members being pivoted together at the loops and a screwthreaded adjusting rod connected to the ends of the loops for adjusting the angular position of the members.

3. An article of the character described comprising two members each composed of an elongated section, and a looped section, both members pivoted together at the looped sections, burs formed on the elongated sections for retaining the device on the leg and a right and left hand screw for adjusting the members from any abnormal or angular position to a normal or straightened position, substantially as specified.

4. An ambulatory ankylosis and tendon apparatus comprising two members each consisting of a straight section and a looped section, each member being pivoted to the other at the looped section; swivel et seend. o he d oi he oped. In est m y whereof, I h v s gne y sections, and right and left hand screwname to this specification, in presence of threaded adjusting screws operating in the two subscribing witnesses.

swivel sockets for adjusting the members so HOMER EDWARD BAILEY. as to partly separate the knee joint when Witnesses:

in the act of straightening the leg, substan ALFRED A. EICKS,

tially as specified, WALTER C. STEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). G. 

